9th Grade Honors English Quarter 2 Napoli EHS

Affiliated (Adjective)

associated, connected

Being \_______ with a well-known law firm is often an important first step on the way to a successful political career.

Ascertain (Verb)

to find out

We need to \________what it will cost to remodel our kitchen

Attainment (Noun)

an accomplishment, the act of achieving

In addition to his abilities as a leader, Abraham Lincoln was a man of high literary \________.

Bequeath (Verb)

to give or pass on as an inheritance

Few people will make enough money in their lifetimes to be in a position to \__________ a fortune to their kids.

Cogent (Adjective)

forceful, convincing; relevant, to the point

A group of legal scholars held a press conference to present a \_________ plea for reform of the state's prison system.

Converge (Verb)

to move toward one point, approach nearer together

The television coverage resumed as soon as the delegates \_________ on the hall to hear the keynote speaker's address.

Disperse (Verb)

to scatter, spread far and wide

When a scuffle broke out, the commissioner ordered the police to \________ the crowd.

Esteem (Verb)

to regard highly; a highly favorable opinion or judgement

In many of the world's cultures, young people are taught to \_________ their ancestors.

Expunge (Verb)

to erase, obliterate, destroy

The judge ordered the remarks \_______ from the record.

Finite (Adjective)

having limits; lasting for a limited time

There are only a \________ number of possible answers to a multiple-choice question.

Invulnerable (Adjective)

not able to be wounded or hurt; shielded against attack

Medieval lords did everything possible to make their castles \________ fortresses.

Malevolent (Adjective)

spiteful, showing ill will

While pretending to be a loyal friend, Nancy told Bob \_________ lies.

Nonchalant (Adjective)

cool and confident, unconcerned

The elegantly dressed couple strolled down the boulevard with a \__________ air.

Omniscient (Adjective)

Knowing everything; having unlimited awareness or understanding

Scientists today have so much specialized knowledge that they sometimes seem \___________.

Panacea (Noun)

a remedy for all ills; cure-all; an answer to all problems

You are mistaken if you think that getting more money will be a \_______ for all your troubles.

Scrupulous (Adjective)

exact, careful, attending thoroughly to details; having high moral standards, principled

Scientists are trained to record their observations with \__________ accuracy.

Skulk (Verb)

to move about stealthily; to lie in hiding

The burglar \_________ in the alley looking for a way to get into the darkened jewelry store without attracting the attention of anyone who might be nearby.

Supercilious (Adjective)

proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority

Their \__________ attitude toward their servants was extremely offensive.

Uncanny (Adjective)

strange, mysterious, weird, beyond explanation

It is highly unusual for a beginner to display such an \________ skill at playing chess.

Venial (Adjective)

easily excused; pardonable

Someone whose offense is deemed by the judge to be \_________ may be ordered to perform community service.

Altruistic (Adjective)

Unselfish; concerned with the welfare of others

Most people support \___________ programs to help the less fortunate of this world.

Assent (verb)

To express agreement

Workers hope that the threat of a long strike will force management to \______ to their demands.

Benefactor (Noun)

One who does good to others

Without the help of many \_______, most charities would be unable to carry out their work.

Chivalrous (Adjective)

Marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly

In today's busy world, where people are often heedless of others, a \_______ act is admired by all.

Clemency (Noun)

Mercy, humaneness; mildness

Many judges are willing to show \_________ to first offenders who express regret for their wrongdoing.

Dearth (Noun)

A lack; scarcity, inadequate supply

An employer may complain of a \_______ of qualified applicants for available jobs.

Diffident (Adjective)

Shy, Lacking self-confidence, modest, reserved

Many a \_______ suitor has lost his beloved to a bold rival.

Discrepancy (Noun)

A difference; a lack of agreement

\__________ in the testimony of witnesses to a crime can have a decisive impact on the outcome of a trial.

Embark (Verb)

To go aboard, to make a start, to invest

Columbus spent years raising money before he was able to \______ on his ocean voyage in search of a passage to the Far East.

Facile (Adjective)

Easily done or attained; superficial, ready, fluent, easily shown but not sincerely felt

Writing is a \_________process for some authors but a hard task for others.

Indomitable (Adjective)

Unconquerable, refusing to yield

All who hear of the remarkable deeds of Harriet Tubman admire her \________ courage in the face of grave danger.

Infallible (Adjective)

Free from error, absolutely dependable

Some critics seem convinced that their expert knowledge makes them \______ judges of the quality of an artist's work.

Plod (Verb)

To walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly

After the blizzard, we had to \______ through the deep snowdrifts to reach the nearest stores.

Pungent (Adjective)

Causing a sharp sensation, stinging, biting

The kitchen of the French restaurant was filled with the \_______ smell of onion soup.

Remiss (Adjective)

Neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless

When I am \_______ in doing daily chores, I have to spend a big part of the weekend catching up.

Repose (Verb)

To rest; lie; place

The mortal remains of thousands who fell in America's wars \________ in Arlington National Cemetary.

Temerity (Adjective)

Rashness, boldness

Few of his subordinates had the \________ to answer the general back.

Truculent (Adjective)

Fierce and cruel; Aggressive; Deadly

People with \_________ dispositions can make life miserable for those who have to work with them.

Unfeigned (Adjective)

Sincere, real, without pretense

The novelist won high praise for her ability to portray the \________ emotions of children.

Virulent (Adjective)

Extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful

The First Amendment protects the right of free speech for everyone, including those with \________ views that are repugnant to most people.

Accede (Verb)

To yield to; to assume an office or dignity
Management was not willing to _______ to labor’s initial demands, thus increasing the likelihood of a long and bitter strike.

**Brandish (Verb)** 

To wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion
I ________ my umbrella repeatedly in an effort to hail a cab.

**Comprise (Verb)**

To include or contain; to be made up of
Classical symphonies usually _______three of four movements of varying musical form, tempo, and character.

**Deft (Adjective)**

Skillful, nimble
The _________ fingers of Spanish seamstresses produced some of the finest, most delicate lace ever seen.

**Destitute (Adjective)**

Deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in
Some people fled their homes so suddenly that they arrived at the refugee camp absolutely _________.

**Explicit (Adjective)**

**Definite; clearly stated**

**The more ________ your directions are, the easier it will be for all of us to find out way to the campsite.** 

**Extirpate (Verb)** 

**To tear up by the roots; to destroy totally**

**We must do everything we can to _________ racism from American society.**

**Inopportune (Adjective)**

**Coming at a bad time; not appropriate**

**Why do my relatives always seem to turn up at the most _______ time imaginable?**

**Ironic (Adjective)** 

**Suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens**

**The short stories of O. Henry are famous for their ______ endings.** 

**Musty (Adjective)**

**Stale, moldy, out-of-date**

**Houses that have been closed up for a very long time often have a an unpleasantly _________ smell about them.**

**Officious (Adjective)**

**Meddling; excessively forward in offering services or assuming authority**

**The manager of the store warned the entire sales force not to be too _______ when helping customers.**

**Ominous (Adjective)**

**Unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen**

**The _________ sound of distant thunder warned us of the storm’s approach.** 

**Pinnacle (Noun)** 

**A high peak or point**

**Some pop musicians reach the _________ of their careers comparatively early in life.**

**Premeditated (Adjective)**

**Considered beforehand; deliberately planned**

**Some crimes are spontaneous acts of passion while others are quite ___________.**

**Rampant (Adjective)**

**Growing without check; running wild**

**All kinds of odd rumors run ________ during a political campaign.**

**Solace (Noun)**

**Comfort; relief; to console**

**Many world leaders seek _________ from the cares of state in the pages of great literature.** 

**Stately (Adjective)**

**Dignified; Majestic**

**The _________ procession slowly wound its way from the palace to the cathedral.**

**Supple (Adjective)**

**Bending easily; bending with agility; readily adaptable; pliable**

**Have you ever read Robert Frost’s famous poem about swinging on the ________ branches of a birch tree?**

**Suppress (Verb)**

**To stop by force; put down**

**Totalitarian governments usually take strong measures to ________ free speech.**

**Venal (Adjective)**

**Open to or marked by bribery or corruption**

**The presence of even one _________official may jeopardize the integrity of an entire organization.**